Quotes of the day

posted at 10:41 pm on May 14, 2013 by Allahpundit

“For fear of stating the obvious,” Kuhnhenn began, “the White House right now is confronting a confluence of issues: Benghazi talking points, IRS reviews of political groups, Justice Department’s review of journalists’ phone records, and in every instance either the president or you have placed the burden of responsibility someplace else… But it is the president’s administration, so I wonder, doesn’t responsibility for setting tone, for setting direction ultimately rest with the president on these matters?”

“I have ordered an investigation. … The FBI is coordinating with the Justice Department to see if any laws were broken,” Holder said. “I think as everyone can agree if not criminal, [those actions were] certainly outrageous and unacceptable.”

Holder did not say specifically which laws the IRS could have violated, but he said there were various statutes within the IRS code that could apply.

***

More than 50 major media organizations on Tuesday sent a letter to the Department of Justice protesting the seizure of two months of The Associated Press’ phone records and calling for the department to “mitigate the damage it has caused.”

In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and Deputy Attorney James M. Cole, the organizations — which include POLITICO and Allbritton Communications Company — ask that the DOJ return the secretly subpoenaed phone records and explain how government lawyers “overreached so egregiously in this matter.”…

“The scope of this action calls into question the very integrity of Department of Justice policies toward the press and its ability to balance, on its own, its police powers against the First Amendment rights of the news media and the public’s interest in reporting on all manner of government conduct, including matters touching on national security which lie at the heart of this case,” the letter from The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 51 other news organizations including Advance Publications, Cox Media Group, The McClatchy Company, The New York Times Company and NPR, among many others, stated.

***

Fournier, a former Associate Press reporter, said that he agreed with Carol.

“I agree with the AP that this is appalling and it’s chilling,” he said. “It’s very important that the press, as flawed as we can be, we do our best work when we get people in government, around government, to tell us things that their bosses don’t want to get out.”

“A muscular response is needed to deal with this,” said Phil Singer, who worked for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. “Republicans have waited a long time for an issue that plays to their perceived strength. Even though this doesn’t involve a tax hike, any kind of bad interaction on the part of the IRS, they’re going to glom on to it and not let go.”

Stop the equivocations, said Clinton White House veteran Chris Lehane, and accept the inevitable outcome: The only way to satisfy the public demand will be with an outside, independent investigation that will be free of White House fingerprints.

“There is going to need some kind of an external review that people feel is objective,” Lehane said.“I think they need to find some type of a vehicle like that will allow them to look like they are getting the bottom of it without them getting involved in it.”

***

“These are things you typically see in the Third World from unestablished republics and other places,” Rubio told Fox News in an interview set to air on the “O’Reilly Factor.” “You don’t see that here.”

Rubio said the compounding incidents were “increasingly leading” to questions about the president’s leadership.

“There’s three different incidents that basically use the government as an instrument of political activity, to target your political opponents, to make life difficult for people that are saying things that you don’t like, to make life difficult for whistleblowers that are saying things about the State Department that you don’t like,” Rubio said. “And I believe that all that comes from the top of any organization.”

***

“Before taking a few questions,” McConnell said, “let me just add one thing. As you continue to file your stories on this subject, ask yourself before you write, how would I be writing this story if this were a Republican administration?”

Throughout the briefing, Carney kept reminding reporters that as a United State senator, President Obama had been in favor of this “press protection” legislation but Republicans had killed it.

Todd, who had obviously done his homework, then dropped a nuke on Carney by revealing that in 2009 as president, Obama changed his mind and “killed” the legislation, even though at the time it likely would have easily passed through both chambers of Congress, which were then controlled by Democrats.

The senator went on to assert that targeting political groups is a firing offense. “When I think of this thing I think of what Lincoln said,” Paul later recalled. “He says, ‘nearly any man can be tested and maybe meet up to adversity, but if you really want to test a man, give him power.’”…

“He’s tapping the phones of the press,” Paul continued. “And it turns out last year he signed legislation that allows him to detain an American without a trial and send them to Guantanamo Bay. This sounds like a president somewhat drunk on power, not cautious about how he uses the power.”

Attorney General Eric Holder said on Tuesday that he had ordered an FBI investigation to determine whether the Internal Revenue Service broke any laws when it targeted conservative groups for closer scrutiny of their tax-exempt status.

“For fear of stating the obvious,” Kuhnhenn began, “the White House right now is confronting a confluence of issues: Benghazi talking points, IRS reviews of political groups, Justice Department’s review of journalists’ phone records, and in every instance either the president or you have placed the burden of responsibility someplace else… But it is the president’s administration, so I wonder, doesn’t responsibility for setting tone, for setting direction ultimately rest with the president on these matters?”

“I have ordered an investigation. … The FBI is coordinating with the Justice Department to see if any laws were broken,” Holder said. “I think as everyone can agree if not criminal, [those actions were] certainly outrageous and unacceptable.”

According to the moderates running this joint – we are to believe nothing the government says, except for when it comes to all that ammo. Then their word is as good as gold, right Ed? AP? Still think there is a perfectly innocent reason for the stockpile?

“There’s three different incidents that basically use the government as an instrument of political activity, to target your political opponents, to make life difficult for people that are saying things that you don’t like, to make life difficult for whistleblowers that are saying things about the State Department that you don’t like,” Rubio said. “And I believe that all that comes from the top of any organization.”

So, the theme here, from both the left media and the right leadership, is that it’s OK to begin to have a few shadowy doubts about Obama’s leadership ability.

In separate statement, Treasury’s Jack Lew says he has ‘zero tolerance for any action that could undermine public confidence’ in IRS – @markknoller

1 hour ago by editor
=========================

More from Obama on IRS:

‘I’ve directed Secretary Lew to hold those responsible for these failures accountable, and to make sure that each of the Inspector General’s recommendations are implemented quickly, so that such conduct never happens again’ – from statement via @NBCNews

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says a government watchdog’s report shows intolerable and inexcusable behavior by the Internal Revenue Service in targeting tea party groups.

Obama says in a statement that some IRS employees failed to apply the law fairly and impartially.

Obama says he’s asked Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to hold accountable those responsible and to ensure it never happens again. He says regardless of how it happened, it was wrong.

The report from the Treasury inspector general for tax administration blames ineffective IRS management for allowing agents to improperly target tea party groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax exempt status. It says lax managers allowed the practice to continue for 18 months.

The IRS apologized for the practice Friday. The Justice Department is also investigating.
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Had a little snag evicting the carpet. All of the stair staples are pretty much still in place. They are embedded in what I assume to be oak. Any HA’ers have advice for easier removal? (I really don’t feel like yanking all of them the hard way).

Heh. Jon Stewart mocking Obamas apparent habit of finding out huge scandals and internal activities from the regular news like everyone else. Over and over, for the past few years. Was wondering if they’d ever hit him over these scandals.

Todd, who had obviously done his homework, then dropped a nuke on Carney by revealing that in 2009 as president, Obama changed his mind and “killed” the legislation, even though at the time it likely would have easily passed through both chambers of Congress, which were then controlled by Democrats.

President government, with his IRS health care, and his green jobs enviromilitia is a golf Duffin buffoon lost in a jungle of arugula searching for a gluten free clue, hoping magic words somehow scroll across the teleprompter to save him from himself.

Obama says he’s asked Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to hold accountable those responsible and to ensure it never happens again. He says regardless of how it happened, it was wrong.

The report from the Treasury inspector general for tax administration blames ineffective IRS management for allowing agents to improperly target tea party groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax exempt status. It says lax managers allowed the practice to continue for 18 months.

The IRS apologized for the practice Friday. The Justice Department is also investigating.
======================

A group of seven Senate Democrats urged the Internal Revenue Service on Monday to impose a strict cap on the amount of political spending by tax-exempt, nonprofit groups.

The senators said the lack of clarity in the IRS rules has allowed political groups to improperly claim 501(c)4 status and may even be allowing donors to these groups to wrongly claim tax deductions for their contributions. The senators promised legislation if the IRS failed to act to fix these problems.

“We urge the IRS to take these steps immediately to prevent abuse of the tax code by political groups focused on federal election activities. But if the IRS is unable to issue administrative guidance in this area then we plan to introduce legislation to accomplish these important changes,” the senators wrote.

The letter was signed by Senators Charles E. Schumer, Michael Bennet, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeff Merkley, Tom Udall, Jeanne Shaheen and Al Franken. It follows an earlier letter, sent to the IRS by the same of group of senators last month, that also urged the IRS to better enforce rules pertaining to 501(c)4 organizations.

You could also use a crow’s foot nail puller to lever them out. It looks like a 6″ or so cold chisel on one end and a pair of pointy iron beaver teeth on the other. Put a thin metal backing plate (putty knife, for example) under it so it doesn’t hurt the woodwork and by placing one of those metal points under each staple and then rocking it up and away by hand you should have those out in no time.

“Defense officials disclosed to the Free Beacon that the DN-2 test was initially planned for last fall, but was delayed by the Chinese over concerns that the test would upset President Barack Obama’s reelection bid.”

You could also use a crow’s foot nail puller to lever them out. It looks like a 6″ or so cold chisel on one end and a pair of pointy iron beaver teeth on the other. Put a thin metal backing plate (putty knife, for example) under it so it doesn’t hurt the woodwork and by placing one of those metal points under each staple and then rocking it up and away by hand you should have those out in no time.

viking01 on May 14, 2013 at 11:27 PM

Thanks for advice.

But now more is requested: We only have carpet planned on the landing area (second stair, connects all bedrooms + bath + small closet). Debating whether or not to just do hardwood stairs. If not, carpet goes on the stairs.

Had a little snag evicting the carpet. All of the stair staples are pretty much still in place. They are embedded in what I assume to be oak. Any HA’ers have advice for easier removal? (I really don’t feel like yanking all of them the hard way).

nobar on May 14, 2013 at 11:08 PM

Lineman’s or Electrician’s pliers. Roughly the same width as a staple and nice sharp squared end that can grab it without scarring the wood.

“Defense officials disclosed to the Free Beacon that the DN-2 test was initially planned for last fall, but was delayed by the Chinese over concerns that the test would upset President Barack Obama’s reelection bid.”

Isn’t that nice of them? I wonder how they will be repaid?

slickwillie2001 on May 14, 2013 at 11:33 PM

slickwillie:)

I wonder if the Chinese Military Clowns are going to blow up another
satellite,and blow crap all over the upper atmosphere,so everyone has
to move there birds in order to dodge any debris like last time:)

I put so much carpet around so many Pac Mans c. ’90, they literally passed a new noise ordinance. :)

The trick is to oversize the box, aiming for a flat Q of about 0.7, not 1.0, and then porting it so that is resonates at about 20Hz, but electronically stripping the bass out as fast as you can right there to keep it from overloading.

But now more is requested: We only have carpet planned on the landing area (second stair, connects all bedrooms + bath + small closet). Debating whether or not to just do hardwood stairs. If not, carpet goes on the stairs.

nobar on May 14, 2013 at 11:35 PM

If the staples are in hardwood, it looks decent and won’t require much refinishing and the staples haven’t rusted or left big or very noticeable holes then light sanding, a medium to dark stain then non-slip polyurethane (gym) finish over it may do the trick and save money. It all depends on how acceptable it looks already or how far to go to make it so.